The National tribune., 1887-04-07
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
BANANA RAISING.

from Modesto, Cal, should plant his bananas IL
feet apart, at commencement Of rainy season.
Roots from old trees are best If they can be had
if not the sprouts from the roots that grow up
continually around the banana tree. They
should be planted from two to three feet deep,
in good soil, leaving the top of the plant un-
covered. By the next rainy season there will
be from three to dozen plants growing from
each plant. He can leave from four to six in
each bunch the rest can be taken up and plant
ed in q new place. When the fruit is fully
grown, but before it is ripe, the tree should be
cut of about two feet from the ground, when
new tree will grow out from the center of the
old stock. The fruit should be hung up in a
room to ripen. They are very hardy plant,
and require very little Cared. c. LEWIS,
Garden Valley. Cal.
FRAUD.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Will you warn
all your readers that the so-called Bohemian
oat and cereal business is fraud and swindleY
They are now trying in some localities to repeat
their operations. Many places in Illinois, Ohio
and Michigan have suffered. They are q
swindle. Let all farmers shun their operations,
or they will suffer for not needing aud turning
those agents away.-C. b. TEFFT, Eastwood,
Mich.
REMEDY FOR BLACKLEG.
Blaekleg is q fatal disease of young cattle,
and any remedy that will cure il is a godsend
10 the farmer. The following from the Greeley
(COlo.) Tribune, will be good news to every
owner of cattle 1t says:
Last Spring, Capt. Monahan, of this city.
observed with alarm, that out Of band of I26
Il - r.. 4
disease was unmistakably blackleg. Happen
ing TO recall the statement of Scotchman that
in his native country the disease is stamped
out by the use Of garlic, Mr. Monahan made
ali haste TO procure pound Of the bulbs of this
plant, and lost no time in applying it. The
animals were roped and cast; a horizontal cash
one inch in length was made in the upper fore
leg; the lower lip Of the wound was pealed
down so as 10 form a little pocket, and in this
pocket small piece of mashed garlic was
forced. All the living animals were served in
the same way, and not another one died. 1t is
claimed that garlic thins the blood Of the
creature. In Scotland all animals under three
years of age are treated with garlic, the effect
lasting only one year. In some localities whole
herds are treated in this way, rs a prevention
of blackleg. Animals attaining the age of
three years are no longer subject to this sudden
and fatal disease, which is said to be a kind of
apoplexy, and most likely to attack animals in
high condition"
To this we will add that it is the practice of
some stOckmen TO administer liberal doses of
Epson salts TO the calves and cattle as soon as
a case of blackleg occurs. This, it is claimed,
acts as preventive, and no more cases will oc-
cur. The dose would vary from three ounces
TO pound.
EARLY POTATOES.
If it is a luxury TO have early fresh grown
vegetables, provision must be made for their
early growth. Early potatoes surely cannot be
grown if they are not planted and in order to
aid their earliness of maturity they should be |
brought into n condition to be strong and vigor-
Gus, To hasten their growth soon as placed in |
the ground. To do this bring some seed into |
the light and in a warm room they will soon !
begin 10 develop sprouts, which will increase in |
vigor If the tubers are kept properly moistened |
Let the sprouts grow to some length and as soon |
the soil is suitable plant in the ground. The |
advance thus made will be surprising.
STARTING PLANTS.
If no hot bed is made, and there is no green |
house in which to do il, plants for early setting
should be started in the house. Tomatoes, let |
tuce, cabbages, peppers and cucumbers can be /
started in this way, and If properly attended to
will give quick returns for an early crop Plant !
in good soil well enriched in boxes over which |
glass may be placed. TO prevent oorapid |
evaporation Of moisture. DO not plant until |
the soil is warm, and then give proper attention;
as the plants gain IN size transplant into other
boxes or pots, so as 10 give more room and to |
induce vigorous growth. Transplant 10 the |
open soil as soon as practicable.
KEEP TREES VIGOROUS AND HEALTHY.
The best success in fruit culture requires that |
the trees should be kept in growing healthy |
condition. This is necessary in order to avoid |
attacks OF disease and of insect pests. Obser- |
walton proves that in every case the weaker |
trees sutier soonest and most from the attack of |
insect depredators. This same principle is |
observed in case Of the Colorado beetle-they |
work their greatest injury where the vines |
show least vigor. In the human family in |
fectious or contagious diseases take q stronger |
hold on persons of debilitated and weak con- |
stitutions. Farmers would do better TO culti- |
yate only so many trees rs they can do well, |
keeping them ia such a vigorous condition that |
they are better able to Withstand attacks Of all |
kinds.
The beehive should find its place at every |
country home.
The first prescription for a sick horse or |
COW is a warm blanket.
Cows may be fed for cream, for milk sim |
ply, or for nothing. Too many are fed for |
nothing.
-Alsike clover is coming to be regarded by I
bee men as one of the best honey producing |
plants known. One authority says that one |
acre of alsike will produce 500 pounds of the |
best honey in one season
- Honey is the least expensive of table lux |
uries, and always comes in well. Children are |
fond of IL, and il is a most palatable and health
ful article of diet. No family should be with |
out their colony Of the faithful and industrious
little workers.
1t is now generally conceded that the best |
time to apply lime 10 land is in the Spring of |
the year, after the ground has been broken up |
for corn and before narrowing. Have it then |
well scattered over the land, that it may be |
thoroughly mixed with the surface soil as the |
same is being worked.
When dogs run sheep down, causing them |
10 become overheated, they should be killed rs
soon as they get thoroughly cooled. Such sheep !
ara raraly unod fnr anv,bi,,r 4